The LBFC is a bipartisan legislative service agency consisting of six members
of the Senate and six members of the House of Representatives. The panel is
responsible for conducting studies and making recommendations aimed at
eliminating unnecessary expenditures and assuring that state funds are being
spent in the manner authorized by the General Assembly.

Senate Adopts Mensch’s “Pennsylvania German Heritage
Week” Resolution

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously
adopted
Senate Resolution 470 designating the week of October 23 through 29 as
"Pennsylvania German Heritage Week" in Pennsylvania.

The resolution celebrates the history of the Pennsylvania Germans and their
contributions to the Commonwealth.

Senate Panel Reviews College Student Loan Debt

Leaders from the state’s largest student financial aid servicer and higher
education institutions on Monday provided members of the Senate Majority Policy
Committee and the Senate Education Committee with proposals to better inform the
public on student loans.

According to testimony, Pennsylvania was slightly better than the national
average for default rates when it comes to four-year public institutions (PA at
6 percent; national at 7.3 percent), four-year private institutions (PA at 4.8
percent; national at 6.5 percent) and community colleges (PA at 15.7 percent;
national at 18.5 percent). Only for-profit schools in Pennsylvania have a higher
default rate (15.7 percent) than the national average (15 percent). You can view
the hearing and review all of the written testimony
here.

Bills Sent to Governor for Enactment

House Bill 447 amends the Landlord and Tenant Act by adding
provisions for early termination of a lease if a tenant dies.

House Bill 683 eliminates Federal veterans’ disability
payments and State veterans’ benefits from the definition of income when
determining a claimant’s eligibility for the Property Tax Rent Rebate program.

Senate Bill 889 extends benefits to enforcement officers
and investigators of the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission.

House Bill 1581 amends the Crimes Code by adding the
offense of strangulation, such as in domestic abuse cases in which the victim is
not injured.

House Bill 1619 enacts the Interstate Medical Licensure
Compact Act to develop a comprehensive process to allow physicians to become
licensed in multiple states and allow eligible licensed physicians in one state
to treat patients in other states via telemedicine.

House Bill 1734 provides a one-year extension of the
continuing professional education compliance deadlines for schools, teachers and
administrators.

House Bill 1841 and
House Bill 1842 address temporary permits issued to those
seeking to become a licensed perfusionist. A perfusionist is a certified medical
technician responsible for extracorporeal oxygenation of the blood during
open-heart surgery and for the operation and maintenance of equipment (as a
heart-lung machine) controlling it.

Bills Approved by the Senate and Sent to the House

House Bill 49 extends the death benefit that is currently
available to other emergency responders to members of the Pennsylvania Civil Air
Patrol. The bill returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 535 allows Pennsylvania’s municipal police
departments to use radar as a means of speed enforcement. I am co-sponsoring
this measure.

House Bill 869 requires those convicted of second-degree
misdemeanor, or higher, animal abuse to forfeit their animals to shelters or
other organizations dedicated to preventing animal cruelty. It also permits
courts to order similar forfeiture of animals upon conviction of a third-degree
animal abuse misdemeanor. The bill also incorporates a number of proposals to
prevent animal cruelty, including measures to prevent tethering dogs in unsafe
conditions, strengthen penalties for animal abusers and include horses under
Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws. The bill returns to the House for
concurrence on Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 976 amends the Wiretap Act to permit the use of
body-worn cameras by police officers.

Senate Bill 1271 requires the courts to ensure that a child
in foster care remains in the same school he or she is enrolled in prior to
out-of-home placement or a change of placement unless the court determines that
remaining in the same school would be contrary to the child's safety or
well-being. I am co-sponsoring this measure.

Senate Bill 1300 eliminates residency requirements imposed
by a municipal code or charter as a qualification of elected office, or to fill
a vacancy of elected office, for those on active military duty.

Senate Bill 1313 amends the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act
by adding new definitions for “energy-related cost savings,” “energy savings
company” and “operating costs” and amends the definition of “energy conservation
measure” to clarify what costs are qualified under the act. I am co-sponsoring
this measure.

Senate Bill 1330 provides for Pennsylvania State Preemption
over firearms and ammunition regulations.

Senate Bill 1365 increases the number of Common Pleas
judges in Bucks, Montgomery, Washington and Wayne counties.

Appropriations Committee Round-Up

Next Week

The Senate will reconvene Monday, October 24 at 1 p.m. You can watch session live at
PASenateGOP.com.

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